Garage door construction



Dec. 26, 1939. w. D. FERRls 2,184,341

GARAGE Do'oR CONSTRUCTION Filed March 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DHL 26, 1939- w. D. FERRls 2,184,341

' GARAGE DooR CONSTRUCTION v Filed March 21, 195s' 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY. Hf

Patented Dec. 26, i939 unir-ED STATES- ami- annees noon. coNs'rnuc'noN D. Ferris, Sterling, lil.,A assignmto Frantz Manufacturing o.,

anuncis Sterlinglll., a cor-l emanan nnen e1, less, serial Nn. lszosr Thisinvention relates to garage doors,andl doors for Lper buildings, but more especially to that p c is in one rigid section, and in which supporting means-are provided by which the door is `heid in an overhead* open position, and a vertical closed position.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction Vand arrangement for easily and accurately ad justing -the springs winch arev commonly employed for assisting in the opening of a door of this kind, and for cushioning the closing movementzthereof, thereby tochange or` regulate into its open position, and by which it is cush- Y ioned in its downward movement, or to change Y the tension of the-springs, whereby only a minimum of effort is necessary in the opening of the door into its overhead position, as well as in the l`to unhitch or disconnect the springs in the said adjustment or regulation thereof. Y

More specifically considered, the object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of screw mechanism for providing, in eect, a micrometer screw adjustment of the spring leverage exerted by the springs of a door of this character, or of the spring tension. or both, thereby more accurately to insure the desired balancing effect of the door, in the general operation of opening and closing the same, and to make it possible to do this after everything has been assembled andwhile each spring re- 35 mains properly hitched or connected at each end It is also an object to p de certain novel t details and features of ction and combinations tending to`increase the general eiiiciency and desirabilitygof a garage door of this par# ticular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompany- 45' ingdrawingainwhich- Fig. l is a vertical section of agarage door embodying the principiof `,the invention, showing adjacent portions of the doorway and other v portions of the building, with the door in partialiy open position.

Fig. 2 isa view similar to Fig. l, showingthe door in closed position.

VIl'ig-.8 is aninsideviemon a smalierscale, of

one side portion of the do'cmSandrof the adjacent' construction in which the door.

the spring leverage by which the door is raised closing-thereof, and whereby it isunnecessary j 41r clamficl. zer- 1i Y -f nature of a verticalsection on line H in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Fig."4 is a plan view of the screw mechanism forming the means for adjusting the tension of the springs. f 5 x Fig. 5 is an end elevationof the parts shownv in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6--6 in Fig.

V4 of the drawings. I*

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a 10 different form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing a diiferent form of the invention.

.Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view, showing another form o f the invention. Y Fig. 10 is an enlarged horizontal detail frag-` mentary section on line III-I0 in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a rigid rectangular door section I, provided at its m upper corners with wheels or rollers 2 '-that travel on the horizontal tracks or rails 3, rigidly fastened to the building at each side of the upper portion of'the doorway l 'of the garage or other building. Normally, in its closed position, the said door I occupies a vertical position', as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As shown in Fig.1, the said door is adapted to swing upwardly into an overhead horizontal open po tion.

To support the door in its said open and closed positions, two lever arms 5 have their lower ends pivoted at 6 on the lower portion of the door, and have their intermediate portions pivoted at- 'i on bracketst secured at opposite sides of the .35

doorway inside the building. These lever arms are preferably made of channel iron, with the two channels facing each other. Each channel has a longitudinal slot 9 in the vertical wall thereof, for the pivot bolt I 0, and the head of. this bolt car- 40 ries a bracket plate IIII) which is threaded to engage the screw I I that extends `parallel with said slot. lThis screw hasta. swivel-anchorage `I2 in the bracket plate Il that is rigidly Secured to the end of the lever arm. The outer end of the screw or threaded 'I I is provided with a portion I4 for engagement with a wrench 'or other tool, so that the screw. may be rotatedto.

l in eilect, move the bracket plate |00 longitudinally of the lever arm B, and thereby change the 50 position Aof the pivot bolt I0, to in effect either lengthen'. or shorten the distance between the y building', land that the lower ends of these springs, a minimum of exertion or effort, and to close it are adjustably anchored on the stationary bracket plates I6 that are secured to the inside ofthe door frame, these plates each having a vertical row of holes I1 by which the bolts for the eye I8 can be shifted up or down, the springs having their lower ends suitably secured to these two eyes, as shown in the drawings.

I9 that are rotatably held on the outer end portions of the pivot bolts I0, the latter being clamped firmly in place against displacement in the slots 9, by nuts 2 0, after the proper desired -adjustment has been made.

Thus, after the door is installed, the two screws or threaded rods Il can be adjusted, to give the springs I5 the proper or desired tension, for the necessary or desired spring leverage, so that the A door will have a delicate balancing' effect when it is raised into its overhead open position, and when it is lowered into its vertical or closed position.` `VIn this way,l practically' a` micrometer screw adjustment is provided for .varying the action of the springs. When the door is in vertical or closed position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the springs are preferably just a little over the center, so that their tension is exerted in a manner to hold the door in closed position. However, as soon as the lower endof the door is -swung outward even a slight distance, the ten-V sion of the springs is then exerted in a manner to develop a leveragein the arms 5, sothat the springs assist in raising the door into its overhead or horizontal open position. Then, when the' door is clpsed, practically the same leverage is used to retard and cushion the downwardv described, the door and all its 'parts can be fully assembled, and the action-of the springs, and the spring leverage thereof, can be changed or regulated without unhitching or disconnecting either end of the spring, as each spring lwill, remain hitched or connected at each "end thereof during such adjustment and regulation as is necessary to obtain the desired balancing eect of the door,- for example, after the door is fully assembled, and then by partially opening the door, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the screws II can then be rotated, to change or vary the distance between the pivots 1.and the bolts I0, thereby in effect to change the length of the shorter end of the lever arm. This is done easily and conveniently, as it obviates the necessity of unhitching or disconnecting the springs, and the adjustment or regulation is accomplished while the springs are under tension, and without disturbing the original hitch or connection at the lower end of each spring. Rotating the screws II, of course, will in effect,

and to some extent, change or vary the tension of the springs I5, obviously, but the purpose is more to change the leverage developed by the springs in the lever arms 5, by in eiect changing ^'or varying the length of the two arms, thereby to insure the desired balancing eiect of the door in the opening and closing movements thereof,

The upper ends of the two springs are connected to sleeves with practically no jolting or slamming thereof.

Obviously, when the point of attachment of the spring on the lever arm is moved toward the pivot 1, the tension of the spring when the door is in open position is increased, and the tension when the door is in closed position is decreased; and, vice versa, when -the point of attachment of the spring is adjusted away from the pivot 1, then the tension of the spring when the door is in pen position is reduced, and is increased for the closed position of the door. It is also obvious, therefore,

.that the adjustment 'for the lower end 'of' the spring, aiorded by the holes I1, is eiiective togive the spring any proper or desired tension with relation to any adjustment or change in the spring leverage, for doors of diierent weights and sizes, as 1t is obvious that it will require more spring tension and more spring leverage to properly balance a relatively heavy door, and less for a relatively light door; and, in each particular situation, the adjustment or regulation of the spring leverage is easily accomplished while the springs remain hitched or connected at each end thereof, and hence the balancing of doors of different sizes or different weights can be accurately accom plished through th'e medium of a comparatively simple and inexpensive adjusting means.

As shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, there are l two side springs 2|, that are adjustably hitched at their lower ends to the apertured -vertical'bars 22, and which have their upper endsy hitched to cords 23 that extend over stationary sheaves 26, and then down to the brackets 25 that are rigidly secured to the inner side of the door 26, which latter is similar to the one previously described. The bracket plates 21 are rigidly secured to the sides of the door frame, and are provided with vertical slots 28, similar to the slots 9 previously described. The sheaves 24 are mounted on bolts' 3| like the bolts I0 previously described. Each brafket plate 21 has a vertical adjusting screw 29, similar to the screws II previously described, and each screw 29 has a threaded element 38 thereon, to carry the bolt 3I, which is movable in the slots 28, the upper end of each plate 21 having a swivel 32 for the adjusting screw, the upper end of which latter can be engaged with a wrench or other tool to rotate the screw. In this way, by adjusting the two screws 29, one at each side of the f doorway, the tension of the springs 2| can be regulated or adjusted to insure the desired ballancing effect of the door,` when the latter is opened and closed, the door having side links 33 that are pivoted on the brackets 25 on the door, and that are also pivoted l on the stationary bracket plates 34 on the door frame. In this way, the door has an overhead horizontal open lposition and a vertical closed position in the doorway,

y and the springs-2l serve to assist in opening the door and to cushion the downward or closing movement of the door, and the tension of the springs-2| can be changed or varied, without unhitching these springs at either end, to' suit the requirements of doors of different sizes and weights. 'A

In Fig. 8, the construction is. similar to' that shown in Fig. '1, but in this case the `cords 28 are omitted, and the springs 3 5 have their upper ends hitched directly to the bolts that slide in the slots 86 -of the bracket vplates 31 on theJ sides of the doorway, the vertical adjusting screws 38 being similar .to those previously described. In

this way. .obvious1y,the tension of the springs in order to make itpossible to open the door withcany be changed or regulated to suitthe 're- 75 areas quirements, by rotating the screws 38, without unhitching the springs ateither end thereof, the door 39 and the side links 40 being similar to those shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings, the construction is similar to that shown at the bottomof Fig. 'I of the drawings, except that in this case the brack'etplate 4I, similar to the bracket plate 22, is provided with a vertical plate 42 that has a vertical slotA 43 for the bolt 44 that slides up and down in this slot, similar to the bolts 3l previously described. Each bracket plate 4| has a verti-` cal adjusting screw 45, swiveled at its upper end,`

adjustmentmechanism is provided for changing' or varying orregulating the tensionof a doorlifting spring, or for'changing or varying the spring leverage, thereby to vary the spring tension or the leverage in accordancewith doors of'dierent sizes and weights, and it is obvious that, in each form of the invention, this leverage or tension adjustment is possible without unhitching any spring at either end thereof. and is suitableguidingmeans. Thusineachformvoi the inventionthebalancimofthemorisregulatedbythemovement Vpossible without disconnecting any of the parts,

afterV the door is fully installed. wherebv the .ad-

justment of the tension or leverage, or both, can

be accomplished readilv. from time to time, during the actual use and life of the door.

The invention, therefore. contemplates broadly a garage door/construction in which there is a screw mechanism for adjusting the tension of the lifting springs. or the spring leverage. in either the vertical closed position of the door, or'in the horizontal overhead open position of the door. without the necessity of unhitching either end of either one of the two lifting springs. by means of a rotary screw threaded rod for each spring.

with aV threaded non-rotary traveler-for each` threaded rod. and with each rod swiveled at its end to hold it against endwise displacement on its support. which latter mav be either a -lever arm lor a bracket on the building. and this broad idea is the essence of the invention. inasmuch as this form of screw adiustment was not heretofore possible in` overhead door construction o1' this kind.

Obviously. when the nut 20 is tightened. the traveler Illli is tightly clamped in place. as on the member 5, and this prevents rotation of the screw Il. as when the traveler is rigid with the member upon which it is mounted. the screw cannot then be rotated. and this is true of each and every form of the invention shown and described. This means. of course. that the pull of the spring is communicated directlyv from the traveler to the member on which the latter is mounted. instead of through the screw. for when the traveler is thus tightlv clamped and fixed in position. the lscrew could be removed. and the spring would still be effectively hitched or connected to the lever I. or to whatever other member the traveler -is mounted upon. But as the screw -II is held against endwise'displacement, bythe swivel I2.

it follows that the screw cannot be rotated when l the traveler is rigidly clamped in iixed podtion on the guide formed by the slot or by any otthetravelalongthegmdaandalongtha scre'w, and in each case the pulling means are applied to the clamping bolt that extends through the traveler and the guide, so that the spring tension is communicated directly to the guide, in-

stead of through the adjusting screw.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a garage door system of counterbalancing, whereby the door has a vertical closed position and an overhead horizontally disposed open position, the combination and relative arrangement of a member having a guide, a traveler adjustable back and forth on said member, held to straight movement by said guide, an adjusting screw swiveled at one end in a bearing on said member and disposed parallel with saidguide and having screw connection with said Atraveler so that when the screw is rotated the traveler will move along said guide, while the screw is held against axial displacement by its swivel, holding means for holding said traveler `xed in adjusted position and thereby preventing rotation of said screw and having provisions thereon for the connection thereto of pulling means, whereby the pullexerted is regulated by said adjustment of the traveler, and` whereby the balancing of the door may be regulatedby the changing of theY position of said traveler on said screw.

2. A structure as specified in claim .1, said member being a pivoted lever, so that the leverage thereof is changed by said adjustment of the traveler.

3. A structure as specified in claim` 1, said member being held stationary.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said traveler having a sheave mounted thereon, forsaid pulling means.

v 5. A structure as speciiied in claim 1, said pulling means comprising a coil spring connected at one end to said traveler yand at the other end to a stationary object.

6. A- structure as speciiied in claim v1, said 'pulling means comprising a coil spring connected at one end to said traveler and at itsvother end to a movable object.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, said vholding means comprising a clamping bolt ex`- tending through said guide, with the headof the bolt engagingsaid traveler, and with the nut thereof engaging said member, so that the latter is clamped tight between said. traveler and nut, when the latter is tightened, with said pulling means swiveled on the end portion of the bolt outside of said nut thereof.

8. A structure as speciiied in claim 1, said holding means comprising a bolt extending Lthrough the traveler and guide, with the head of the bolt against the guide, anda nut on said bolt, said guide beingclamped between said nut and traveler, and said pulling meansbeing applied to the outer end of said bolt.

9. A structure as speciiied in claim 1, said member being stationary tohold said bearing .in

xed position.

10. A structure as specified in claim 1, said member. being movable to move said bearing on the arc of a circle.

11. A structure asv specified in claim 1, having leverage means in which the leverage is changed Awxntrann.imams. u 

